Table of contents:
- Baby's skin is very sensitive
- Is it safe to wear jewelry for babies?
- Also pay attention to the shape and style of the jewelry
It is no longer a strange phenomenon to see a newborn already walled in jewelery. Presenting jewelry to babies, whether it be in the form of gold necklaces, bracelets, earrings, or anklets, is a tradition that has been passed down through generations in Indonesia. However, is it really safe for your baby to wear jewelry? This is because some metals are known to trigger allergic reactions and itchy rashes in adults.
Baby's skin is very sensitive
"Compared to adult skin, baby's skin is thinner so it tends to be more sensitive to changes that occur around it," said dr. Srie Prihianti Sp.KK, PhD, a pediatric skin specialist from PERDOSKI who is also the chairman of the Indonesian Child Dermatology Study Group (KSDAI).
When met by the Hello Sehat team in the Mega Kuningan area, last Monday (5/11), dr. Yanti, her nickname, explained that babies with sensitive skin are very susceptible to skin disorders such as red itchy rashes, allergies, and irritations. Especially if the baby also has a history of eczema (dermatitis) in the family.
Is it safe to wear jewelry for babies?
It's okay to wear jewelry for babies. However, you must pay attention to the jewelry material you choose. The wrong type of metal can trigger problems with already sensitive baby skin, if you're not careful.
We recommend that you choose jewelry for babies that is made from pure gold rather than silver, platinum and iron jewelry containing nickel. Silver, iron, and nickel are the metals most at risk of causing an allergic reaction. This metal allergic reaction is known as eczema or contact dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis will get worse if the skin is sweaty.
“Gold rarely causes allergic contact dermatitis because of its nature inert (trans: stable and non-reactive). Gold jewelry will not react with skin, ”explained dr. Yanti.
For the same reason, you should also avoid baby jewelry made of synthetic fibers and plastics.
Itching and red spots appearing on the skin are the first signs that the skin is allergic to the jewelry stuck to the body.
Also pay attention to the shape and style of the jewelry
Apart from the type of metal, also consider the shape and style of jewelry for babies. Babies like to pull objects around them and put everything in their mouths.
Necklaces and bracelets with thin chains can break easily when pulled, so the beads can choke your baby if swallowed. The sharp or rough edges of jewelry can also scratch and irritate the baby's skin.
So, choose simple jewelry that does not have beads or embellished with pendants. For bracelets and anklets, you also need to make sure that they fit the circumference of the baby's leg. Not too tight and too loose.
It is best not to let babies wear any necklaces around their necks until they are much older.
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